So extra
Kabawa, Silence Please, downtown power lunches, Chez Nous, Julia Baum Interiors, Cafe Zaffri, MORE
When Bar Kabawa opened its doors on Extra Place in February, the party was just getting going. Six weeks later, sister restaurant Kabawa opened next door. It was the Momofuku group’s first new full restaurant since 2019 and confirmation something special was again happening along this dead-end East Village alley.
Now, having just landed at number 4 on the NYT’s 100 Best Restaurants in New York City list last week, Kabawa has gone from a spot with substantial pedigree and some buzzy heat to one of New York’s most coveted reservations. The questions, then: Is it really worth scoring one? Can it possibly live up to the hype? And does Momofuku really still have the juice after all these years?
We’ve got all the answers, based on multiple visits over the past two weeks, below.
WORK • Sponsored Routine
Do it once, do it right
JULIA BAUM • founder + principal designer • Julia Baum Interiors
Neighborhood you live in: Brooklyn, NY
Neighborhood you work in: Across NYC, Westchester, CT & LA
It’s Tuesday morning. What’s on the agenda for today?
For any project, I always meet with vendors on site for a walkthrough — that's the best way to truly explain design intent and direction. Today, I’m meeting with a Venetian plaster artist, AV specialist, art consultant, and window treatment vendor at my full-floor project on the East Side. It's on the 65th floor with direct views of the Chrysler Building (absolutely magnificent) and the design is going to be extremely elegant and serene. For Venetian plaster, you need to work super closely with the decorative painter to make sure the color and finish are correct in order to get the right effect. When done correctly, it completely envelops a space, and that’s what we’re trying to achieve in the entry foyer and hallway on this project.
The aesthetic of my work leans French and Italian Modernist, which can be seen in the furnishings (like the Gio Ponti desk covered in parchment, and the Jean Royere desk chair in the photo below), fabrics, and finishes that I select. My personal motto is “do it once, do it right,” which is why I put so much time into site meetings, and having the right vendors and tradesmen in place for any project.
What’s the scene at your workplace?
With clients all over the tri-state area and LA, every day looks different. After my morning coffee, I check my to-do list of Monday followups. I take pride in the fact that I’m a one-woman show, and I love how intimately involved I am in every aspect of design, from interacting with clients to sourcing and working with my vendors. Unlike some other firms, when you work with my firm, you actually get to work with me.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Heading to Cafe Zaffri with my husband. The food is amazing, and the design and decor are exquisite. You could sit there for hours just looking around and enjoying a drink.
How about a little leisure or culture this week?
I haven’t yet been to the newly reopened Frick, so that’s definitely on the agenda. While it isn’t my design style, I do love Gilded Age architecture, and that there’s art and interiors to see is definitely a double win for me.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
A vintage marble fireplace mantel from the 1920s sourced from Belgium. In NYC, it’s very rare to have a fireplace, let alone a working one. When possible, I love putting fireplace mantels in apartments — they add a ton of character and help center a room.
What NYC store or service do you love to recommend?
While I am a designer and love furniture, I also adore unique housewares, and a very underrated store is The Design Shop at the Neue Galerie on the Upper East Side. Not only is the store itself beautiful, with floor to ceiling millwork and big windows, but the curation is unmatched. You can find one of a kind items there, from vintage silver to cushions to wallpaper. It’s the ideal place to pick up something fun for yourself or a friend.
→ Book a consultation: Julia Baum Interiors (NYC & LA). [spon]
RESTAURANTS • First Person
Paul’s Boutique
